AFL preview - Round nine

Jockey survives horrific fall

Bearcats’ worship video bomb

Bosh interrupts LeBron interview

Most popular articles

The most read articles on WWOS

1.Panthers shut out toothless Dragons

2.Dogs rally for AFL win over Saints

3.Girl apologises to Goodes for racial taunt

4.Brumbies weather Blues storm in Auckland

5.Brett Morris good to go for NSW in Origin

6.Maroons should opt for force: Thaiday

Wide World of Sports TV partners

AFL Footy ShowAustralia's favourite team takes you through the week in AFL.

Wide World of SportsCatch up with Ken Sutcliffe and the team on Wide World of Sports.

Footy ClassifiedOur award winning panel tell it how it really is in the AFL world.

NRL Footy ShowFatty and the gang bring you an entertaining look at rugby league.

AFL preview - Round nine

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Go mobile

This week's games:
Magpies v Swans	Saints v Bulldogs	Hawks v Suns
Port v Cats	Lions v Blues	Kangaroos v Crows
Giants v Eagles	Tigers v Bombers	Dockers v Demons

	MAGPIES v SWANS
MCG, Friday 7.50pm AEST
Collingwood's attack has a threatening look with Travis Cloke supported by crumbers Andrew Krakouer and Sam Dwyer. The eighth-placed Magpies are coming off an excellent win over Geelong and have the home-ground advantage against the fourth-placed Swans who could only manage a draw at the SCG against Fremantle. Sydney are chasing their first win over Collingwood at the MCG since 2000. Key: Collingwood's onball division will be tested by Sydney's crack combination including Dan Hannebery, Josh Kennedy and Kieren Jack. The goalkicking power of midfielders Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan could be crucial for the Magpies. Tip: Magpies by 16 points
Last clash: Finals Week 3 2012 - Swans 13.18 (96) bt Magpies 10.10 (70) at ANZ Stadium		Head to head: Magpies 138 Swans 80 drawn 1
Magpies: Backs: Brown Reid O'Brien Half-backs: Russell Maxwell Williams Centres: Sidebottom Swan Ball Half-forwards: Elliott Lynch Macaffer Forwards: Kennedy Cloke Dwyer Followers: Jolly Pendlebury Rover: Blair Interchange: Krakouer Clarke Witts Seedsman Emergencies: Didak J Thomas Sinclair In: Clarke Out: J Thomas		Swans: Backs: Malceski T Richards Smith Half-backs: McVeigh Grundy Rampe Centres: Jetta O'Keefe Hannebery Half-forwards: Morton Reid Bolton Forwards: Parker Goodes McGlynn Followers: Pyke Kennedy Rover: K Jack Interchange: Bird Everitt Lamb Mumford Emergencies: Armstrong Mitchell Walsh In: Lamb Out: Walsh
$1.55	Odds		$2.45

	PORT v CATS
AAMI Stadium, Saturday 1.45pm (AEST)
Port's five-game winning streak at the start of the season has been replaced by a three-match losing run and taking on the second-placed Cats will be no picnic. The Cats are also smarting after last week's first loss of the season and the return of brilliant midfielder Steve Johnson is a further boost for Chris Scott's side. Port haven't beaten Geelong at AAMI Stadium since 2004. Key: Geelong skipper Joel Selwood had a very quiet first half last week and Port will be have a tough task to match the tagging efforts of Collingwood's Brent Macaffer from last week. Tip: Cats by 41 points
Last clash: Round 14 2012 - Cats 14.15 (99) bt Power 8.13 (61) at Skilled Stadium		Head to head: Power 8 Cats 15 drawn 1
Port: Backs: O'Shea Carlile Heath Half-backs: Brad Ebert Jonas Logan Centres: Cornes Boak Broadbent Half-forwards: Moore Westhoff Monfries Forwards: Wingard Schulz Gray Followers: Redden Hartlett Rover: Wines Interchange: Mitchell Colquhoun Lobbe Thomas Emergencies: Hitchcock Stevenson Clurey In: Logan Thomas Heath Colquhoun Out: Cassisi (hamstring) P Stewart Stevenson Neade		Cats: Backs: Mackie Lonergan Enright Half-backs: Guthrie Taylor Thurlow Centres: Duncan Bartel Motlop Half-forwards: Stokes Johnson Burbury Forwards: Christensen Hawkins Podsiadly Followers: West Selwood Rover: Corey Interchange: Smedts J Hunt Caddy Blicavs Emergencies: Brown Schroder Kersten In: Johnson Burbury Out: Schroder Horlin-Smith (soreness) New: George Burbury, 20, Hobart (Tas)
$5.75	Odds		$1.14

	GIANTS v EAGLES
Skoda Stadium, Saturday 2.10pm
Following the excitement of last week's post-siren win over North Melbourne, West Coast now face what's expected to be a light training run against the bottom side. GWS coach Kevin Sheedy's cheeky suggestion about trading an entire year of draft picks to snare ruckman Nic Naitanui has at least added some interest to the game following Naitanui's heroics last week. Key: Young GWS forward Jeremy Cameron managed four goals in an 83-point loss to Hawthorn last week but a likely avalanche of possession going the other way will leave the Giants' key forwards starved of opportunities against the Eagles. Tip: Eagles by 73 points
Last clash: Round 3 2012 - Eagles 23.12 (150) bt Giants 10.9 (69) at Blacktown Olympic Park		Head to head: Giants 0 Eagles 1
Giants: Backs: Bruce Gilham Mohr Half-backs: Buntine Corr Miles Centres: Smith Green Palmer Half-forwards: Treloar Cameron Whitfield Forwards: Adams Tomlinson Ward Followers: Brogan Scully Rover: Coniglio Interchange: Hampton Shiel Giles Kennedy Emergencies: Townsend O'hAilpin Downie In: Hampton Treloar Buntine Out: Bugg (illness) Golds Whiley		Eagles: Backs: Brennan Glass Brown Half-backs: Hurn Mackenzie Butler Centres: Gaff S Selwood Dalziell Half-forwards: LeCras Darling Masten Forwards: Cox Kennedy Kerr Followers: Naitanui Priddis Rover: Shuey Interchange: Rosa Hill Sheppard Hutchings Emergencies: Embley Hams Wilson In: Butler Brown Dalziell Hutchings Out: A Selwood (quad) Waters (quad) Schofield (finger) Wellingham (ankle)
$17.00	Odds		$1.01

	SAINTS v BULLDOGS
Etihad Stadium, Saturday 4.40pm AEST
St Kilda (15th) and Western Bulldogs (16th) boast only three wins between them this season but most observers would suggest there's a sizeable gap between the two sides. Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney says his men are closer than people might think to achieving some better results, which might provide some hope to fans who have suffered through 18 losses in the club's past 19 games. The Saints have won their past eight meetings with the Bulldogs and regain veteran onballer Lenny Hayes. Key: The Bulldogs will struggle to contain St Kilda's star forward Nick Riewoldt. Tip: Saints by 39 points
Last clash: Round 18 2012 - Saints 16.22 (118) bt Bulldogs 6.6 (42) at Etihad Stadium		Head to head: Saints 79 Bulldogs 70 drawn 3
Saints: Backs: Stanley Gwilt Newnes Half-backs: Dempster Fisher Webster Centres: Ray Hayes Roberton Half-forwards: Dal Santo Maister Geary Forwards: Hickey Riewoldt Milne Followers: McEvoy Montagna Rover: Steven Interchange: Ross Siposs Armitage Saad Emergencies: Jones Milera Saunders In: Hayes Out: Milera		Bulldogs: Backs: Picken Roughead Johannisen Half-backs: Young Morris Goodes Centres: Boyd Griffen Murphy Half-forwards: Dahlhaus Jones Stringer Forwards: Addison Williams Giansiracusa Followers: Minson Smith Rover: Liberatore Interchange: Macrae Hrovat Stevens Lower Emergencies: Wallis Cross Markovic In: Addison Williams Hrovat Out: Cross Cooney (hamstring) Markovic New: Nathan Hrovat, 18, Northern U18
$1.18	Odds		$4.90

	LIONS v BLUES
Gabba, Saturday 7.40pm AEST
Carlton have a 4-4 record and sit outside the eight and can't afford to be losing to lower-ranked opponents like Brisbane. However the Lions are in a good frame of mind after their upset win over Essendon last week. The return of Bryce Gibbs is a boost for the Blues. Key: Defender Michael Jamison's stopping role on Brisbane's veteran big man Jonathan Brown will be a crucial battle between two of the game's elite players. Tip: Blues by 18 points
Last clash: Round 20 2012 - Blues 17.11 (113) bt Lions 10.17 (77) at Etihad Stadium		Head to head: Lions 12 Blues 13
Lions: Backs: Adcock Patfull McGrath Half-backs: Yeo Lester Staker Centres: Raines Black Polkinghorne Half-forwards: Bewick Brown Hanley Forwards: Zorko Lisle Rockliff Followers: Leuenberger Moloney Rover: Redden Interchange: Green Mayes Golby Michael Emergencies: Docherty Banfield Karnezis In: Green Michael Out: Merrett (suspended) Clarke (suspended) New: Sam Michael, 19, Redland (Qld)		Blues: Backs: Robinson Jamison Henderson Half-backs: Tuohy Armfield White Centres: Lucas Judd Simpson Half-forwards: Curnow Walker Garlett Forwards: McLean Waite Kreuzer Followers: Warnock Murphy Rover: Scotland Interchange: Bell Bootsma Cachia Gibbs Emergencies: Menzel Casboult Laidler In: Gibbs Out: Menzel
$3.00	Odds		$1.40

	TIGERS v BOMBERS
MCG, Saturday 7.45pm AEST
Essendon's supplements saga has taken another twist with chief executive Ian Robson's resignation. The players admit the interview process as part of the supplements investigation has been draining and Essendon have gone on a two-match losing run after a 6-0 start to the season. A crowd of 80,000 is tipped for the Dreamtime clash and Richmond, with ruckman Ivan Maric back from injury, will need to lift to be competitive after their underwhelming win over Melbourne. Key: Richmond's key forwards Jack Riewoldt and Ty Vickery copped a post-match blast from coach Damien Hardwick last week for poor goalkicking and improved finishing from both could swing an upset win for the Tigers. Tip: Tigers by 10 points
Last clash: Round 22 2012 - Tigers 13.24 (102) bt Bombers 8.9 (57) at MCG		Head to head: Tigers 85 Bombers 102 drawn 4
Tigers: Backs: Morris Rance Chaplin Half-backs: Newman Ellis Houli Centres: Grigg Cotchin Jackson Half-forwards: Deledio S Edwards King Forwards: Vickery Riewoldt Martin Followers: Maric Foley Rover: Vlastuin Interchange: White Batchelor McGuane Lonergan Emergencies: A Edwards Nahas Dea In: Newman Lonergan Maric Out: Nahas Stephenson Dea New: Sam Lonergan, 26, Essendon		Bombers: Backs: Carlisle Fletcher Dempsey Half-backs: Heppell Hooker Hibberd Centres: Stanton Watson Melksham Half-forwards: Winderlich Crameri Goddard Forwards: Zaharakis Bellchambers Hurley Followers: Ryder Hocking Rover: Howlett Interchange: Baguley Myers Kommer Jetta Emergencies: Ashby Kavanagh Gumbleton In: Dempsey Jetta Out: Kavanagh Merrett
$2.05	Odds		$1.78

	HAWKS v SUNS
MCG, Sunday 1.10pm AEST
Seeing Brownlow Medal favourite Gary Ablett go head-to-head in midfield against Hawthorn's own medal contender Sam Mitchell will be a highlight of this clash between the premiership favourites and the 12th-placed Gold Coast. While Ablett's side have won their past two matches, a hat-trick looks unlikely judging by the bookmakers' odds on this MCG clash. The Hawks have left out ruckman David Hale who has a sore ankle. Key: Hawthorn's Lance Franklin says even though he's only kicked 20 goals this season, he's still contributing in other ways. Sunday's game is a chance for the four-time All-Australian to get a confidence-boosting big haul of goals. Tip: Hawks by 44 points
Last clash: Round 21 2012 - Hawks 19.15 (129) bt Suns 10.5 (65) at MCG		Head to head: Hawks 3 Suns 0
Hawks: Backs: Stratton Lake Guerra Half-backs: Mitchell Gibson Birchall Centres: Smith Hodge Shiels Half-forwards: Puopolo Franklin Lewis Forwards: Gunston Roughead Breust Followers: Bailey Sewell Rover: Burgoyne Interchange: From: Spangher Simpkin Grimley Hill Duryea Cheney Osborne In: Gibson Cheney Grimley Hill Out: Hale (ankle) New: Sam Grimley, 22, Northern U18		Suns: Backs: McKenzie Hutchins Stanley Half-backs: Swallow Thompson Murphy Centres: Shaw Ablett Harbrow Half-forwards: Broughton Lynch Lonergan Forwards: Brown May A Hall Followers: Day O'Meara Rover: Prestia Interchange: From: Gorringe Matera Brennan Russell Nicholls Horsley Wilkinson In: Murphy Horsley Wilkinson Nicholls Gorringe Out: Smith (knee) Bennell (hamstring)
$1.01	Odds		$17.00

	KANGAROOS v CROWS
Etihad Stadium, Sunday 3.20pm AEST
Last week's after-the-siren goal from West Coast's Nic Naitanui puts the Kangaroos in danger of dropping out of finals contention at 3-5. Adelaide are 4-4 and coming off two successive wins with a third victory in their sights in what is shaping as a tight contest between two sides striving to keep in touch with the eight. Scott Thompson, Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane lead a powerful midfield unit for the Crows while the Kangaroos need the pacy Daniel Wells to dominate proceedings. Key: Adelaide's marking power up forward, featuring Josh Jenkins, Shaun McKernan and Tom Lynch, will stretch North's defence led by Scott Thompson and Nathan Grima. Tip: Crows by 15 points
Last clash: Round 13 2012 - Kangaroos 17.19 (121) bt Crows 13.11 (89) at Etihad Stadium		Head to head: Kangaroos 17 Crows 16
Kangaroos: Backs: Mullett Thompson Macmillan Half-backs: Wells Grima Firrito Centres: Gibson Atley Bastinac Half-forwards: Cunnington Petrie Harvey Forwards: Thomas Daw Adams Followers: Goldstein Swallow Rover: Ziebell Interchange: From: Hansen Gysberts Wright Hine Sierakowski Black McMahon In: Sierakowski Gysberts Hine Out: Nil New: Jordan Gysberts, 21, Melbourne		Crows: Backs: Brown Rutten Otten Half-backs: Reilly Talia Smith Centres: Vince Dangerfield Mackay Half-forwards: Sloane Jenkins Lyons Forwards: Kerridge Lynch Douglas Followers: Jacobs S Thompson Rover: van Berlo Interchange: From: Wright Petrenko McKernan Callinan Porplyzia Henderson Laird In: Petrenko Callinan Henderson Out: Nil
$1.48	Odds		$2.65

	DOCKERS v DEMONS
Subiaco, Sunday 4.40pm (AEST)
Melbourne showed a bit of ticker last week in their 34-point loss to Richmond but now face a trip to Subiaco where they've lost their past 13 matches. While Melbourne (1-7) are fending off criticism that some of their high-profile players may be seeking trades at the end of the season, fifth-placed Fremantle are making plans for finals football in September and look set for a percentage-boosting win. Key: Fremantle's injury list is a concern for coach Ross Lyon but their depth will be too much for the Demons. Tip: Dockers by 58 points
Last clash: Round 12 2012 - Crows 17.13 (115) bt Saints 16.15 (111) at AAMI Stadium		Head to head: Crows 19 Saints 15 drawn 1
Dockers: Backs: Spurr Dawson Johnson Half-backs: Ibbotson McPharlin Silvagni Centres: Sutcliffe Crowley Duffield Half-forwards: Barlow Mayne Fyfe Forwards: de Boer Clarke Ballantyne Followers: Hannath Mundy Rover: Pearce Interchange: From: Suban Pearce Mzungu Taberner Crozier Simpson Michie In: Michie Crozier Taberner Simpson Out: Walters (ankle) New: Matt Taberner, 19, Murray Bushrangers U18; Josh Simpson, 19, East Fremantle (WAFL); Viv Michie, 21, Oakleigh U18		Demons: Backs: Dunn Frawley Terlich Half-backs: Watts Sellar Garland Centres: Trengove Evans M Jones Half-forwards: Tapscott Howe Jetta Forwards: Gawn Dawes Davey Followers: Jamar N Jones Rover: Magner Interchange: From: Byrnes McKenzie Strauss Nicholson Gillies Bail Spencer In: Byrnes Gillies Spencer Watts Out: Toumpas (ankle)
$1.01	Odds		$17.00